More business, less hype

CeBIT, the world's biggest technology and telecoms trade fair, has admitted it will radically restructure the show in 2008 with more focus on B2B and less on novelties. The new CEBIT will also be a day shorter.

CeBIT is expecting a €6m loss this year due to declining visitors and exhibitors. Big spending exhibitors such as Konica Minolta, Lenovo, BenQ, Nokia, and Motorola have all cancelled.

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At a presentation in Hanover yesterday, board member Ernst Raue called the new concept a "paradigm shift". Raue says he wants more business, less "hype". Innovative solutions and applications will be more important than products as such.

Future CeBITs will have three major themes: business, public sector and residential for retailers and hobbyists. However, the show will still be open to the general public during the weekend.

This year's show will also have a more business-like feel, the organisers claim. Almost 6,000 stands from 70 countries will be at the show, which runs 15-21 March in Hanover. ®